5.17.2006

The Mother's Day Gift That Keeps on Giving

I have been trying to make time to participate in Her Bad Mother'sGreat MommyBlogger Love-in. Truly I have. But between the Mother's Day festivities, the packing, the traveling, the working full-time, the blog reading, and...what am I forgetting? Oh right, the actual MOTHERING--it's been a little tough to squeeze in.

I feel like the one dorky friend arriving at the party just as everyone else is leaving, and saying, "whooooo! Let's get this party started! The Lizenator is here!" And you're all like, "Yeah, whatever. It's midnight you idiot and the party started at 7."

So here I am scraping up the congealed brie from what's left of the cheese platter, grabbing a warm beer, and begging you to stay. Just a little longer. For I too would like to share a few of my fav-or-ite things.

I need to start by saying I have a bazillion blogs on rss. That is the actual number. I counted once, and it took many hours. I do my best to read them as often as I can because each one, in its own way, inspires me, motivates me, makes me laugh, makes me think. If I ever comment on your blog then you know I'm reading you with some frequency. And let's just say, I don't read stuff that sucks. It physically pains me.

But since I can't possibly call you out each by name for the aforementioned reasons (and since so many participants in the Love-In have already done this so beautifully--one of the downfalls of coming so late to the party), I'd like to mention just a few very special blogs to me: My first loves. Those early reads/readers who got my site meter up to a good 10 or 12 hits a day. As I've said here recently, an audience, however small, is my heroin; it's the drug that keeps me writing day in and out. And these women were my benevolent dealers.

Rebecca was the first. I found her through the Crazy Hip Blog Mamas Mom of the Week. The site instructed me to leave a comment and so I did. And--surprise of all surprises--she commented back. It was like coming home to find a celebrity hanging out on my couch, reading my magazines. A real live Mom of the Week! A popular blogger--here! Writing to me! I am constantly awed by her writing, not to mention her headlines. I mean, come on-- Placenta: A Woman?It takes a Village, People? Brillllliant (delivered like Jon Lovitz as the Thesbian). And as someone I've now been fortunate enough to meet live and in the flesh, I can only assure you she's every bit as enjoyable in person.

Next came Mrs. Fortune. I immediately fell in love with her humor, her introspection, her wonderfully observational, stream-of-consciousness writing style, particularly as it related to her pregnancy. Her response to a bumper sticker advertising employment for one-ton diesel drivers: I was relieved to find out that in the (increasingly likely) event that I do pork up to 2,000 pounds, a job awaits. Good stuff. Wish I could take credit for it, like pretty much everything she writes.

Then came Kristen, my blogging soulsister and now business partner. A truly nurturing spirit, she actually took the time to email me a comment since dorko here messed up the commenting options on blogger. I can't imagine anyone who reads Mom101 doesn't read Motherhood Uncensored. In fact, I can't imagine that anyone who reads any blogs doesn't read MU. She's the next Dooce (you heard it here first, folks). She'll having you clutching your stomach with laughter one minute, and weeping the next. That's talent. And one day very soon I guarantee you'll be paying full price for it through Amazon. Get it now while it's free.

Next came Carrcakes, Binky, and StephanieRJ, a remarkably supportive trio, with enjoyable blogs to boot. Caroline seems so sweet and genteel, and yet is perfectly comfortable telling you how she farted in her anesthesiologist's face during labor. Binky is a novelist in the making and nearly anypost of hers will confirm this. Stephanie was described by Izzy as being "like a perfect sweater, warm and cozy." I can only concur. I mean, the woman used to be in the Peace Corps. What I love about these three is that these are probably not women I would have met in the real world. But somehow we've found each other here and I feel both my life and my writing are richer for it.

Finally, I will always have a soft spot for Jenn, a real live fancypants playwright. Hers was the first blog which compelled me to go back and read pretty much everything she'd ever written. And then--ohmigodohmigodohmigod--she linked to a post of mine. I went from six readers to about sixty overnight, which is a testament to just high her blogging Q score must be.

I wish I could do more. But I'm jet lagged. And I have a beautiful sleeping baby in the other room with a restless leg in search of a head to kick all night.

Happy Mother's Day (again) everyone. Let's remember that we can all be nice to our fellow moms the other 364 days a year too.

Hey, as a girl who always shows up late for everything and will never judge based on time constraints (hello! we're moms! they're lucky we show up at all!) I'm just glad you got to join in the fun. I love your site and happy belated mother's day!

There's no such thing as being late to this particular party. Even if I am slumped over by the stereo system cycling nostalgically through bad 80's compilations CD after bad 80's compilation CD, I will still lift my head up weakly, give you a big boozy grin, and slur 'come on in the party's fiiiiine...'

Oh, man. I didn't even really realize this was going on, and now I have to do it, I have to.Although I may never be a rock star, as you so richly deserve to be, you brilliant woman, you, I think I have a few fellow little-knowns I could point to.

Those are some great blogging mamas, Liz. I haven't read a few of them so I'm looking forward to checking them out. And I have to agree with all the other commentors here. You are a rock star blogging mama yourself!

After reading so many of your posts I think that you would be one of the few people that could come up with a compelling enough reason to get me to start partying again at midnight. As long as you let me call you "Lizenator".

If I ever get off my ass and write a novel, I'll have to include you in the dedication. Your support really means a lot, not only because it is so heartfelt, but because you are such an incredible talent. You're like a blogging superhero using her powers for good, not evil ;) Thanks for that.

Okay I am not sure of exactly how this got started and what the instructions or credentials are in being a part of this so I will just put my remarks here for you to read.

EVERYTHING you said about Rebecca with the exception that I have never read Rebecca's (but will now) is how I feel when I get home and see MOM101 in my comments. As If I were Erica Kane who waited years to receive an Emmy. Getting an email from you was more like that feeling you must get when Publishers Clear-house has knocked at your door! Your it for me sister, I applaud your writing, humor, and mom 101 experiences. BRAVO to YOU!!

I was never one of those people who felt like there were never enough hours in the day unless it came to sleep. Now that I dig reading blogs, that has changed. I need an extra two hours, at least, just to get through all of the great writing out there. Thanks for these links. A couple I've already read, but I'm thrilled to start exploring the others, too!

This is so sweet. Somewhere between now and 2007 I'd like to write a similar post. I love that I have met you in the blogging world. You have inspired me to become a better writer and I enjoy pulling up a chair to your virtual dinner table every day when I read your blog. Thank you for the thought provoking posts, the laughs, and the tears.

And Liz, YOU have reached dooce status in a record amount of time and are to be commended. You are the dooce that writes back.

The way you write about Rebecca was exactly the way I felt when you commented on my site. I actually just said to myself, "I can't go to bed before I check on Mom-101." Isn't that wild that people think of you the way you thought of Rebecca???

Thanks again by the way, and thanks for the tips on others to read as well. If only I wasn't so tired, I could start now.

Me Me Me

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(Crazy though it sounds, not all blogs are product review blogs. Pitches relevant for Cool Mom Picks can be sent
to me at Cool Mom Picks. My name is Liz by the way. Not Mom-101. My mom will vouch for that.)